Repurpose Design Series #3 – DIY Pallet Fence

It’s reveal day!! I’m so excited to show y’all what I’ve been up to…..and to see what my blogger friends came up with this round! Find the links to their blogs at the bottom of this post!! You won’t want to miss their projects! If you’re new to this series, you can find Project #1 Here and project #2 Here.

So…….this is a CLASSIC textbook example of when a project gets away from you and becomes something from another planet. And not necessarily in a good way. Last week I was out antiquing and picking. I was on the prowl for chairs (because I up and sold my entire dining room and now I have nothing) and some old picket fencing. I’ve had it in my head for some time now to fence in my garden with something prettier than stakes and chicken wire. And let’s be real – when I get something in my head, all bets are off. I was on my way home from antiquing feeling rather defeated since I was coming home with nothing…..when I passed this HUGE pile of free pallets. I was only about a 1/4 mile from home and in that little itty bitty quarter mile, I decided I was going to use those pallets to build me a fence. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today. It was happening. I raced home and got my neighbors truck…..well and my neighbor. Who am I kidding? I don’t want to lift all those alone. It wasn’t my initial plan to use this project for my third reveal…..frankly, this fence took up all my spare time over the last 5 days so I wouldn’t have had time to do anything else anyway. Since it qualifies for this series and meets all the guidelines (under $20 – the pallets were free) I decided to use it!

In my mind, this was the simplest project on mother earth. I really believed I would have it up and completed by the time my husband got home from work. I’m so adorable.

I started styling my new fence before we were even close to being done. I can’t help it.

My husband might be bent over crying here. Not really….but I wouldn’t have judged him if he was.

I ran down to the Amish and bought a bunch of sturdy long wooden stakes. All the stakes were less than $15! Thumbs up so far. I figured it would be as simple as attaching these stakes to the pallets and then driving the stakes into the ground. Turns out it was a tad more difficult than that. Not impossible. Just didn’t pan out like it did in my brain. Which is actually how most things work in my life. I tend to jump the gun or put the old cart before the horse as they say.

We got all the pallets up and in place. I stood back to see the fruits of our labor. And I hated it. I asked my husband if he liked it and he gave one of his “sure” responses. It took two days for us to admit to each other that we both hated it. Some of the pallets were taller than the others. In my mind, this was ok. It would look eclectic and whimsy. My brain really let me down on this one. It looked so stupid.

So, after getting it all set up and done……we took most of it back apart. Cool.

My husband shortened all the ones that were too long and we got them back into place. It was actually starting to look alright now. At least more like a fence, anyway.

I pondered for a day how I would make the gate. I knew I didn’t want to use more pallets. I needed something different to break up all the pallets. I remembered I had this 6.5 foot picket fence that would be perfect! We put up posts for the gate, cut the fence to size and hinged it on. I made that sound so easy. Those simple steps took two hours. Haha. Right as we were getting ready to cut the posts down to level of the pallets, I stopped and thought it would be pretty rad if I put a board across the top and gave it an arborish feeling with a western flare. Because that’s what all gardens should have. I guess.

I knew I wanted to really go crazy with lots of flowers and primitive things in front of the fence. It was part of my original vision for my garden fence. I rummaged through my basement for most of the items that are being used here. Perks to being an antique hoarder.

Now that it’s finished, I really love it. We haven’t planted yet….well two rows of beans is all, but I’m so torn to not plant vegetables in it at all now. Don’t tell my husband that. I dream of having an enclosed flower garden, and this would be the perfect one. It would be so magical to lay lots of limestones throughout it with flowers and plants everywhere. Alas, I need my fresh produce so peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes will go in this weekend!

I’d love your thoughts on my pallet fence. Is it crazy?! It is a little, but it’s functional and pretty to look at. 🙂

Now, you MUST go check out these other talented bloggers who are also participating in this series!! I have no doubt that you’ll be SO inspired.

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6 thoughts on “Repurpose Design Series #3 – DIY Pallet Fence”

Jennifer!! Haha! I think we might share a brain when it comes starting massive projects we think can be finished in a few hours! I can so relate! That being said, this “little” fence project turned out seriously so perfect. Love it. Love the arbor and gate you added. Perfect!

Yes I can totally relate, once I get an idea in my head there is no going back! That being said I love the way this turned out. I love all the cute stuff you put in front and I especially love the gate:)

too cute, reminds me of the 60’s show F troop 🙂 If you need any ideas, check out my sitehttps://www.facebook.com/pages/ITALIAN-PEASANT-COUNTRY-ACCENTS-PRIMITIVES-FRENCH-COUTURE-JUNQUE-CURBSIDE-FINDS/50377716774